Description
Book SynopsisBeginning with the simple two-word sentence and working up to multi-clause possibilities, Templates shows students how to manipulate syntactic patterns for maximum rhetorical effect. Although it teaches grammar, it does not do so with the goal of correcting mistakes. Rather, it encourages writers to make full use of the complexity and flexibility of English sentence structure. Combining an emphasis on the writing process with both an awareness of audience and a raised consciousness about English grammar, Templates takes a unique approach to sentence-level writing and revision.
Exercises throughout the book help students to move from simpler sentence structures to more complex multi-clause constructions.
Key features:
- - Emphasizes the rhetorical possibilities of sentence structure
- - Grammatical analysis is demonstrated in terms of syntactic “templates”
- - Shows how the writer can play to audience awareness of these templates
- - Promotes sentence-level editing as the fine-tuning stage of the writing process
- - Usage issues are presented as choices based on level of formality, rather than as prescriptive rules
- - Includes a glossary of grammatical terms
Trade Review“Stephen Lewis explains the often complicated aspects of English syntax in a relatable way, providing writers with useful tools to simplify sentence structure. With his templates as a foundation, students will easily be able to develop their unique style, equipped with the knowledge of why it is good writing.” — Jackie Hendricks, Santa Clara University
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Rationale for This Approach
How to Use This Book
A Note on Terminology
Chapter One: What Is a Template?
English Syntax as Templates
Exercises
Chapter Two: The Intransitive Template
Subjects and Verbs
The Basic Template
Expanding the Intransitive Template
Matters of Style
Delaying the Subject
Reversing Subject and Verb
Matters of Usage
Fragments
Subject-Verb Agreement
Adjectives and Adverbs
Exercises
Chapter Three: The Linking Template
The Basic Template
Expanding the Linking Verb Template
Other Linking Verbs
Matters of Style
Matters of Usage
Adjectives and Adverbs
The Case of Pronouns in the Subjective Complement
Subject-Verb Agreement
Exercises
Chapter Four: The Transitive Template I: Direct Objects
The Nature of Objects
The Basic Template
Voice
Expanding the Transitive Verb Template
Matters of Style
Choosing Active or Passive
Possible Ambiguity in the Passive Voice
Matters of Usage
Subject-Verb Agreement
Adjectives and Adverbs
Pronoun Case
Special Cases in Transitive/Intransitive Templates
Exercises
Chapter Five: The Transitive Template II: Indirect Objects
Indirect Objects
The Basic Templates
Expanding the Templates
Matters of Style
Matters of Usage
Pronoun Case
Subject-Verb Agreement
Exercises
Chapter Six: The Transitive Template III: Objective Complements
Objective Complements
The Basic Template
Expanding the Template
Matters of Style
Matters of Usage
Subject-Verb Agreement
Pronoun Case
Possible Ambiguity
Exercises
Chapter Seven: Compound Templates
Compound Sentences and Coordination
The Basic Templates
Matters of Style
Matters of Usage
Exercises
Chapter Eight: Dependent Clause Templates I: Adverb Clauses
Adverb Clauses
The Basic Templates
Matters of Style
Matters of Usage
Exercises
Chapter Nine: Dependent Clause Templates II: Adjective Clauses
Adjective Clauses and Relative Pronouns
Other Connecting Words
Adjective Clauses Modifying Subjects
Adjective Clauses Modifying Objects
The Basic Templates
Matters of Style
Matters of Usage
Relative Pronoun Case
Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses
Ending a Sentence (or Clause) with a Preposition
Exercises
Chapter Ten: Dependent Clause Templates III: Noun Clauses
Noun Clauses
The Basic Templates
Matters of Style
Matters of Usage
Exercises
Glossary
Index
